Daily Republican., 1887-08-25
A Defence Of Camp Meetings.

Morning News.
After reading your editorial OF Mo,d.,
on camp rnest!nes In genera, sra COW,
In particular, l beg ieays 10 .t,b,u,-
lev thoughts o. tas s,matusi Ar, .,S
10 ort fiy present y pisa n tA,,r f.,,,''.
First. They furnish au cru,..ff,.,,,
10 those who caunot Rss ae.y IN 80.
mountains or seaside FOR a iss, d.,snf
recreation In the woods, wnsro ther ava
ctoneht into direct contact with untnrs
Wilhout The haraesment Of toll, the rn.
suit OF which must always bs berag
ciai 10 conterplative mind: ,or thar
Is vo'ce In nature thar tpsaks to sv.'v
man mat viii. listen TO its woo:rg.
'For his gayer hours
sno nas ysies q sisdne's ind SMILE
lnto hiS dafsor muhngs with wild
Aud gentle 81 mpa.hg, tn Al steaisavav
lnsir ehaTpness ere ne is aware
Second. They bring us into clost-
sympathy with one another; break M
tlat ciamieh, ssltith spiri,, that ,no
oiten 10 found ezistipg between ,pd,.
v'duals ami churches. sId promote
true Snris'ian tociability and friend
snip; When Aethodists. BAptists and
rfespyterians ali units Ia the oae great
wotK OF saving souls and advancing
t1e interests OF religion, then they
must % Drought closer together, and
lne general cause OF Christianity pro.
NOTED. Not only do the difirren, d.
nominations reap the benet hnt dtT-
feren. churches Of tho same ceuomina.
tion are brought tos sethsr and ma1, IN
feel that we are in special sepse one,
Third. The churches ;hemselvas ., -.
greatly quickened Ia spiri,usl life, TIE
h1mau oathoii; Cauroh has its mira
sions. Tee Protestant Episcopal It's sea.
tons OF revivals ana coutirmat,ons
rhe othtr dsnomirations their tp,c;al
evan2elis.ic efforts for the purrose of
rekindling true religious enthu.iatm.
and TO bring their people up to o higher
pisne oil spirituality. We, az Metbo.
otsts, nave our camp meeliuga. Ard
the heai OF Divine approval has been
ee' upon them IN the conversion Of
thoussnos amt the leading OF hundreds
INTO heiier and more spiritual moo o al
iivirg. FOR no one can spend week or
Two under the benign influence ol a
truly spiritua! can p meeting aud nos
be greatly benefited thereby, unle&s II
Is oGe VINO stu0boruiy ttsists al WOO.
inEs or both nature and God.
Fourth. The oirec: results nre a,so
Rreat-;hat IL, the conversion OF scuI,.
James Gays (5;20); LET hin know
that Le which couyerte TT n sinner f,om
the error OF HIS way shall ,ayo ,cpI
from death, and bhal! hide q multitude
OF sins.' At camp meeting he!d
several years $40 bat one conversion
was reported, and hs poor tin pedlar,
but no Dscams great and eminent
uivihe In our church, whcse name to
day 10 q household word. Nov, some
or thece camps named Iepor, q number
OF conver8ioLs; Our own Bsandywiue
summit foity i've. At least that m any
moro will date their frst serious deter
mination to lead a new life. l suppose
nearly al! the ministers and many of
the layity convsrsed with many such.
These would have been considered
converts by many revlvalistS, but We,
as Methodists, insist On a conscious
evidence OF Rcceptance-.Ee assurance
OF pardon; and count only those who
can speak with cOnfdsncs on this mat
ter. Toe converts ct the camp above
named ranged ali the way from III to
70 gears Of age, and solne OF the most
Interesting Cases l ever witnessed.
They were from Eve different States,
ouu haNo klNou I utlt names HB INT u Def3
OF four different denominationg- Prot
estant Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist
and Methou,ss. Oar Efforts have not
been to convert the people on Metho.
dism &C much rs to Christ. The fact
that soul il saved is our reward for
all the sacrifice and toll of the weeks
gone by. That which causes Joy in
heaven ought to producs eladnsss On
earth.
Fifth. Now Brandywine Summit In
particular was = most delightful camp
meeting, socially and spiritually. The
very beet Of order prevailed; every thing
was peaceful and pleasant, 80 tar As
have learned, and many have said TO
me that they never had mere enjoy.
able and profitable time than tbs meet
Ing above named. And 1t does mp
pear 10 me that such q camp moetiDg
must be permanently profitable.
In regard 10 objections offered againss
such annual assem blies. They do not
begin To outweigh IN importance and
value the good accomplished. Tho evil
would In tome meaeuro be perpetrated
any how at some otker place, while the
good done is 30 much clear gain.
r. G. JONES,
Pastor In Charge OF Brandywin Inc Sum.
L. ~